8.6m rand used to buy luxury cars for Zuma’s wives

South African President Jacob Zuma arrives to attend the National Day of Prayer in Absa Stadium in Durban on May 22, 2016. He has been accused of violating austerity measures. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • They are four Range Rovers bought in 2013 for $60,000 each, two Land Rover Discovery valued at $40,000 each bought in 2014, two Audi Q7s bought in March for $40,000 and three Audi A6s also bought in March for $50,000 each.

PRETORIA

South Africans are wondering how serious President Jacob Zuma is about austerity after it emerged this week that the state had spent about 8.6 million rand ($550,000) (Ksh55m) on new cars for his wives in the last three years.

In response to a parliamentary question from the opposition, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko said the police had spent close to $230,000 alone on luxury cars for President Zuma’s four wives this year, despite a call for citizens to tighten their belts as South Africa’s economy struggles to meet growth targets.

He said 11 vehicles for Mr Zuma’s wives had been bought out of the police budget.

They are four Range Rovers bought in 2013 for $60,000 each, two Land Rover Discovery valued at $40,000 each bought in 2014, two Audi Q7s bought in March for $40,000 and three Audi A6s also bought in March for $50,000 each.

Mr Nhleko, who is known for putting his head on the block for the president, justified the purchases saying they were there to provide comprehensive protection of VIP spouses.

Not long ago, finance minister Pravin Gordhan announced austerity measures in parliament.

“This year’s budget, Honourable Speaker, is focused on fiscal consolidation,” Gordhan said passionately while delivering his 2016 budget speech on February 24.

“We cannot spend money we do not have. We cannot borrow beyond our ability to repay.”

After listing a whole number of cost reduction measures, including guidelines limiting the value of vehicles, for office bearers, he said: “Until we can ignite growth and generate more revenue, we have to be tough on ourselves.”

PRESIDENT'S SAFETY
Concluding his speech, Gordhan even thanked the president for his “support”, a statement tinged with irony now.

He did not, however, specify the limit he wanted to impose for car purchases.

The controversy around President Zuma’s inconsistencies is not limited to spousal budgets and their luxury cars.

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula vowed to go ahead with the purchase of a presidential jet believed to cost about $2.5 million.

“There is no way we can avoid this because in the first instance, we must ensure the principal is safe,” she said in parliament on Wednesday.

The minister stressed that the acquisition of aircraft for the president and deputy president was urgent because the jet — South Africa’s equivalent of Air Force One known as Inkwazi — and the plane transporting Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa “have experienced technical problems several times”.

And she had a reply to howls of disdain from opposition parties at the news of the purchase.

“I’m sure your former president before democracy used to fly SAA,” she snapped back at the main opposition Democratic Alliance, a historically white party.

According to the DA, the money used to buy the cars could have instead been used to fund 116 university students, 38 students studying for a three-year degree and an additional 61 police officers for a year.